In short & important: what you can do right now
If your heart is racing or fluttering
- Vagus stimulus: Drink a glass of very cold water in quick gulps or wash your face with ice-cold water.
- Sit down: Stop all physical activity immediately and sit up straight.
- Calm breathing: Take a deep breath in for 4 seconds and exhale very slowly for 6-8 seconds. This signals relaxation to your nervous system.
- Eliminate stimuli: Turn off the television, put away your mobile phone and darken the room if necessary.
- Check: Have you consumed a lot of caffeine today, been under stress, or taken a new medication?
Important
If a rapid heartbeat occurs together with chest pain, shortness of breath, cold sweats or fear of death: call emergency services (112) immediately.
Understanding heart palpitations – what's happening in the body?
A racing heart (tachycardia) means your heart is beating faster than the current situation requires. At rest, a normal pulse is between 60 and 100 beats per minute. Many people experience a racing heart as a "throbbing" in the throat or a "fluttering" in the chest. Often it's a harmless reaction to adrenaline, but it can also be a sign of circulatory instability or interactions with your medications.
Common causes of rapid heartbeat
Why is your heart racing? These are the most common triggers in everyday life:
Stress, anxiety & panic attacks
This is the most common cause. Your body releases stress hormones that accelerate your heartbeat – often you only notice the psychological strain when your heart is already racing.
Caffeine, energy drinks & nicotine
Stimulants act directly on the sinoatrial node (the heart's natural pacemaker). Especially when taken on an empty stomach, these substances can trigger a rapid heartbeat.
Heart palpitations after eating
After large meals, bloating can push the diaphragm upwards, mechanically affecting the heartbeat. Alcohol in the evening is also a classic trigger for nighttime heart palpitations.
Fluid deficiency & electrolytes
When your blood volume decreases due to insufficient fluid intake, your heart has to pump faster to maintain stable blood pressure. This is often accompanied by dizziness.
Medications as "heart accelerators"
An often underestimated factor: Many medications for asthma, colds, or high blood pressure can increase the heart rate as a side effect. Combining several medications is particularly risky.
